JANUARY 2014 SUNRAYS | 55
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hoped the downpour would quit. The rain
genie soon smiled on us. Off we went
down the road again with hope that the
rain had finally stopped. The road dried
off before we did. We had a beautiful ride,
despite squishy feet.
October 15: La Grange to
Navasota (77 miles)
Of all our days on the road, these 77
miles were the most delightful. Although
we didn’t spend very long on each of the
roads on the route, many had Texas
history oozing out every crack. By mid-
morning, we had passed the Chicken
Ranch Dance Hall and were coming
into the little crossroads of Carmine.
First, we stopped at a small city park
to take advantage of the restrooms, but
Jan also wanted a snack. She opened
her food pannier and discovered a small
army of ants had hitchhiked from the
campground where she’d spent the prior
night. A battle with ants is a one-person
crusade—I have to admit, both Bob and
I may have tried to stifle laughter at the
beginning of this episode, but failed mis-
erably. No matter, because Jan was won!
October 16: Navasota to
Madisonville (56 miles)
We had a gloomy start to this day, won-
dering how soon the rain might catch us
or if we could outride it. This “outride
it” business was just wishful thinking.
October 17: Madisonville to
Crockett (48 miles);
then home!
Our final day was also our shortest ride.
We had about 48 miles on relatively flat
terrain. The faster riders were well on
their way home by the time Jan and I ar-
rived in Crockett…last, as always. These
last two bikes were packed into the trailer
and we quickly took off, first for lunch,
then for home. Our trusty driver, Bill Mc-
Millan, delivered all of us in the van to
the Social Center parking lot. Thanks to
Bill, Ted and everyone else who helped;
we had a memorable, if damp, adventure!
The Best Part of the Trip
At times, we felt like drowned rats on our RAT Ride. Everyone missed one sec-
tion due to the roads flooding, andmost of us missed all but 20 miles on another
section, so the majority finished with between 400-450 total miles ridden.
The best part of the trip? The people! On one stretch of road, I saw a big dog
coming toward us and a fellow cyclist said, “Here, let me go ahead of you.” I
told him he was a brave man and he said, “Oh, I like dogs.” Well, I like dogs,
too, but not when they mutate into angry, snarling, teeth-bared monsters
tearing after you on a bike. Even chihuahuas are scary when you’re going 20
mph and a crash means digging embedded pieces of gravel out of your skin
with tweezers (at the very least). I just couldn’t believe he was willing to take
the hit for me. There was also a couple on a tandem who had completed the
Paris-Brest-Paris (several times, I might add)—she is currently undergoing
chemotherapy for multiple myeloma and has been riding with arm fractures.
They joined the club during their stay here for her treatment at MD Ander-
son. Also, I’ll never forget the only day I chose to let my language get away
from me and I learned (alas, too late) my riding partner on that stretch was
an Episcopalian priest.
— Pat Hecker Garcia, N10
The group’s final dinner together at Madisonville. Left to right are: Bob and Lyn Anderson, Jan Woolheater, Walter Juncker
and Howard Hammerbeck.
PHOTO BY JACKIE LAHMAN
